Local 917 Member Acts Fast to Save Toddler's Life
October 22, 2009
While washing her car on October 18, Brandy Atchison, a member of Local 917 and an EMS professional with Polk County EMS of Florida, noticed her neighbor and his 18-month old son mowing their lawn together on a rider mower. Atchison was immediately concerned, but could not have anticipated what would happen next.
After returning inside her house, Brandy had just finished telling her husband that she thought it was dangerous to have the child on the mower when she heard screaming coming from her neighbor's house. She immediately sprang into action when she saw her neighbor running across the yard with his son, who was bleeding severely from his right leg.
Brandy rushed to the father, who was attempting to put the boy into his car and drive the close to 20 miles to the next hospital, and took control of the hectic scene. She asked the boy's parents to begin writing down his information and then had her husband, a police officer with the Auburndale Police Department, call 911 and tell them that this is a trauma alert situation that would require a helicopter.
While her husband was calling 911, Brandy began treating the boy's wounds. She controlled the hemorrhaging by bandaging the wounds, all while maintaining the child's c-spine precautions. When the Polk County EMS unit arrived on scene she advised the on-duty paramedic of the child's injuries and assisted with the advanced life support procedures until the arrival of the helicopter.
"Mrs. Atchison is the pinnacle of an EMS professional," said Brandy's partner and Local 917 Chief Shop Steward Ken Skaggs. "She is truly an example of the type of EMT we all should strive to be."
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